Barcelona beat Al Ahly 2-1 in the 61st Trofeo Joan Gamper at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, in a preseason fixture under head coach Hansi Flick. The reshuffled starting eleven included Lamine Yamal, making his Gamper debut, while Jules Koundé returned to right-back and Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim led the attack. Abdelkarim and Raphinha scored for Barcelona.
The match carried added significance for Abdelkarim, who had previously been associated with Al Ahly before making his move to Barcelona permanent. During the 2026-27 season, he featured for both the first team and Barça Atlètic, placing his appearance against his former club within a broader pathway between Barcelona’s senior side and its development teams.
The team selection also created opportunities for emerging players and new faces. The lineup account named Rodri and João Cancelo among those absent, with Frenkie de Jong sidelined through injury, and listed Raphinha as first captain alongside Pedri and Eric García. Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí and other young players featured in the matchday picture as Flick prepared his squad for the season.
Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi were also among the Barcelona players associated with the event, adding to the attacking options on display. Rodri was at the stadium, where he spoke with Cubarsí about the ongoing renovations. The Gamper gave the home crowd a first look at Barcelona’s developing squad and a chance to see how established players and emerging talent fitted into Flick’s plans.
The Trofeo Joan Gamper is a traditional fixture in Barcelona’s preseason calendar, combining a first-team test with opportunities for developing players. Abdelkarim’s goal and Raphinha’s contribution secured the 2-1 win over Al Ahly, giving the club a positive result ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Recent events, including Spain’s renewed border controls for arrivals from Italy, have also highlighted the significance of international encounters for Spanish clubs. More details can be found in this recent report on Spain's airport checks.
